METAIRIE, La. (PRWEB)
October 11, 2019

The spirit of Louisiana will be embraced by the 8th Annual Louisiana Walks for Parkinson’s, sponsored by US WorldMeds and benefiting the Davis Phinney Foundation. The event celebrates all the best that Louisiana has to offer — community, living well, and of course incredible food, beer and wine.

The walk and festivities will be Saturday, Oct. 12 at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, La.

The event benefits the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s. The organization is focused on programs and research to help people with Parkinson’s live well today. In 2018, a portion of funds raised at Louisiana Walks were also donated to the NOLA Ballet’s local Dance for Parkinson’s classes. This year the event is supporting the local community by bringing a world class symposium, the Davis Phinney Foundation’s The Victory Summit, to Baton Rouge in March 2020.

Delicious local food, wine, beer, many activities for children, and a selection of handicap accessible courses make this event tailor-made for people who want to have a lot of fun while giving back to the community. There will be a silent auction, crafts, raffles, live entertainment and more.

Event Director Michelle David Lane and Susan Sapir-Fields, assistant walk director, shared their stories here. Susan lost her mother to Parkinson’s; Michelle herself was diagnosed at a young age, and happened to be diagnosed the same year as Davis Phinney.

“People think of it as a shaking disease,” Michelle says. But she says, it’s so much more.

She explains that Parkinson’s affects so many aspects of day-to-day life, including speech and the ability to carry on regular tasks that many people take for granted. The medications people take to help ease symptoms have side effects, she says. And there is no cure — which is why programs and activities that help people with Parkinson’s live well today are so important.

That extends to dedicated caretakers, including Susan who took care of her mother.

“Being a caretaker is a full-time job,” Susan says. Members of Team DPF, one of the fundraising arms of the Foundation which includes both people with Parkinson’s and their loved ones, will join Susan and others at Louisiana Walks. The organization recognizes that “living well” means different things to different people, but celebrates all aspects of the good life: Physical activity, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying cultural events like Louisiana Walks.

Getting through the day, taking a long walk, doing daily chores and savouring the best your day has to offer are all “victories” Michelle says.

“As Davis Phinney says, every challenge met is a victory,” Michelle says.

The Davis Phinney Foundation has research-based and experiential data supporting how much exercise, daily victories and living well today can improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s, and those who care for them.

For more information about the event, including sponsors, activities and a sneak peek at silent auction items, go to http://www.parkinsonswalk.org.

Sponsors of this year’s walk include: Waters Parkerson & Co., Amneal, Boston Scientific, MaxHome, Ochsner and LSU/Tulane Neurology, Bistro Orleans, Don’s Seafood, Mary Brocato, Backyard Lawn Master Outdoor Living, SLO Melt, Abita Brewing Co, Acme Oyster House, Baudry Therapy, Big Easy Food, Copelands, Gold Medal, Medtronic, Raising Canes, Reginelli’s Pizzeria and many more.

The Davis Phinney Foundation was founded by Olympic cyclist Davis Phinney in 2004 to help people with Parkinson’s live well today. The organization’s focus is to provide programs and resources that offer inspiration, information and tools that enable people living with Parkinson’s to take action that can immediately improve their quality of life. Parkinson’s is the No. 2 neurodegenerative disease — second only to Alzheimer’s — and affects more than 1 million people in the United States. The Foundation’s work impacts hundreds of thousands of individuals and families each year.

Team DPF is the grassroots fundraising community that supports the Davis Phinney Foundation through participation in a wide range of athletic and community-based events. With a focus on fun, personal empowerment and fundraising for Parkinson’s, Team DPF welcomes all ages and abilities. With roots in cycling, Team DPF also extends to runners, climbers, swimmers, hikers, community events and more. Team DPF is sponsored by: Primal, Alt Red, SCRATCH Labs, BOCO Gear, Altra Running, Baker Insurance and Boulder Neurological and Spine Associates. Visit dpf.org to learn more.